Dress form



Patented Nov. l, i924.

UNET' Sl JACK CARL JANKUS, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVNA, ASSIGNOR TO HALL BORCHERT DRESS FOR-M COMPANY, OF SCRANTON. PENNSYLVANIA, 'A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

DRESS FORM.

Application filed December 12, 1921.

To all ya'J/z-ofmt may concer/ii Be it known that I, einen CARL JANKUS, a citizen of the United States, andy resident of Scranton, in the county oi Lackawanna and lState oit Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and uset'ul Improvements in Dress Forms, oi' which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in dress forms of that type in which the shell or body wall is made up of separate sections of papier mch or other suitable material, and adjnstably connected together, whereby the form may be changed as vto size and proportions. In `constructions of this kind it is common to provide connecting members between the adjacent sections of the form, which members permit the movementof the sections toward and from each other in substantially the same plane, and the locking of the sections in the adjusted position. Considerable time and care is required for getting the form properly7 adjusted, due to the fact that unless the connection between'each two sections is locked as soon as the adjustment is made, the adjustment may be dis* turbed by a relative movement of one of those sections in respect tov another section. The necessity for a smooth surface requires that the locking mechanism for the forms be upon the interior. Thus, in most constructions, it is necessary to reach up into the interior of the form for each separate locking action al'ter the adjustment ot each two sections. Unless this locking be done after each adjustment, it is necessary to repeatedly readjust different sections, due to the disturbing of one adjustment when making another. H the connections' present suiiicient frictional resistance to hold them in place when once adjusted. this same frictiona-l resistance makes the sections diiicult to adjust in respect. to each other. Furthermore. in pulling` sections apart or pushing them towards each other, they often slip to a considerable distance past the desired point.

The main object of my invention is to provide a connecting means between the sections, of such a character that all of the adjustments may be made from the exterior oi the form, to the exact point desired, and without liability of disturbing one adjustment when making another. A further object is to pio-vde new whereby each connecties Serial No. 521,533.

means may be locked from the exterior of the form.

its one important feature of my invention l provide connecting strips in the form of rack bars, each ot which is secured to one section and extends across the'line between sections to a position adjacent to the inner sur- 'face ot' the next section, where it engages with a pinion. The pinion is so mounted that it may be operated by a key from the exterior of the form, and in connection with Veach rack and pinion there is provided means for locking the pinion against rotation andthe rack bar against endwise movement.

In the accompanying drawings l have illustrated two embodiments oiimy invention. ln these drawings Fig. l is a perspective view of a multiple section. adjustable dress form of the general type to which my invention is applicable.

F ig. 2 is an inside elevation of a portion of two of the sections, and showing one form of connecting and lockingmeans.

F igs. 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 33 and 4 4 respectively of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 being on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a key for locking the connecting means.

Figo is an end viewot the key, and

Figs. 7 and 8 are sections similar to Figs. 3 and 4, but showing a modified form.

My invention is not inr anyway limited to the particular shape or design of dress 'form shown in Fig. l, nor 'to any particular number or shapeof subdivisions of the latter into sections. rlhe invention is applicable to any dress form in which there are a plurality of sections 10 of papier mache or other suitable material connected together andadjustable in respect to each other to vary the size and proportions of the form. My invention, in its preferred form. as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. includes a rack bar 1l, secured to one section and a pinion 12 rotatably mounted on an adjacent section and meshing with the rack bar. The rack bar may be rigidly secured at one end, ory may be'mounted to swing through a limited arc, this depending upon the nature and character of the adjustment which it is desired to make. As shown, it is secured by a split rivet 13 which per-mits a limited swinging .movement Qt the rack. The rile ion is preferably secured to a pinion shaft 1l which is mounted in a suitable bracket. This bracket is illustrated as including a sheet metal strip 15 and a second strip 16,

the ends of the two strips being superposed and directly secured together and to the wall of the section, and the intermediate portions of the two strips being spaced apart to a distance slightly greater than the thickness 'of the pinion, as illustrated particularly in F ig. l. One end of the pinion shaft 14 extends part way through the wall of the section 10, and is disposed within a recess 17 in the latter. This end of the shaft is squared or otherwise formed for the attachment of an operating key 18 whereby the pinion may be positively rotated. A portion of the pinion shaft is threaded, and carries a nut 19. lThis may be tightened to give any desired frictional resistance to the turning of the pinion, or may be used for looking the pinion against rotation.

The nut 19 is illustrated as being located between the squared end of the shaft and the pinion, and extending freely through the strip 15. The nut preferably has a flange portion whereby enlarged bearing surface is presented for abutment against the pinion. The shaft may freely rotate in the strip 16, but is held against longitudinal movement in respect thereto. This means for preventing longitudinal movement is illustrated as including a head 2O engaging with one surface of the strip 16 and an auxiliary strip 21 superposed on the strip 15 and engaging with the end of the head.

The pinion 12 is held against rotation on the shaft, but may have a comparatively slight endwise play thereon so that the pinion and head 2O may be used to clamp the strip 16 therebetween. By tightening the nut 19 the direct engagement of' the nut with the pinion effect-s this clamping action.

As an operating means l provide a key which is preferably of the construction illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. rlhe body portion 18 of the key has a squared socket for receiving the end of the shaft 14. This body portion 18 is enclosed within a sleeve 22 which latter has a pair of prongs 23 adapted to enter recesses in the end of the nut 19, as shown particularly in Fig. T he body portion `of the key has a handle and the sleeve part has a handle 25, and means are provided whereby these two handle portions may be clamped together. shown, the handle portion 25 is formed of two spaced leaves, and the handle portion 241 is pivoted so that either end may enter between these leaves and prevent relative rotation of the two concentric portions of the key. With thevkey portions thus locked together, the nut is nrotated with the shaf' t without tightening or loosening ellect, and the rack bar is caused to move endwise to separate or draw together the sections of the form. When the desired adjustment has been secured, the handle portion 2d of the key may be moved to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 5 and held with one hand while the operator rotates the outer or sleeve portion of the key by means of the handle 25 and tightens the nut to lock the parts in adjusted position. Obviously the nut may be turned to give any desired degree of clamping action so as to permit free rotation of the pinion or any desired amount of frictional resistance.

By means of the construction above described, any two sections lof the form may be brought 'to the desired adjustment and may be positively held in that position by means ofthe inner portion of the key while the locking action takes place through the rotation of the outer or sleeve portion of the key. Both the adjusting and the locking are accomplished from the exterior of the form and by means of a single device.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. T and 8 the locking is accomplished from the inside and without the need of a special key construction. In the form here shown the pinion 12 is held between two strips 15a and 16a, and is rigid on the shaft lll, rlfhe threaded end of the shaft is the inner ond rather than the portion between the pinion and the squared end and a locking nut 19EL is in the form of a butterfly nut on the inner end of the shaft. rlhe shaft may be. rotated by the key shown in Figs. 5 and 6, or by any other suitable forni of key such as the key 18L shown in Fig. 8. 'The outer or sleeve portion of the key shown in ig. 5 is not necessary in this construction.

ln locking the pinion it may be gripped directly between the two strips or members 15a and 16EL of the supporting bracket, or additional means may be provided for locking the rack bar at the same time. As shown, the rack bar carries a sheet metal strip 2S upon one surface thereof,` and this is wider than the rack bar so that it lies between the side of the pinion and one of the strips, for instance the strip 16'. Upon tightening the butterfly nut 192L this strip is positively gripped between the pinion 12 and the strip 1,6, and the pinion is also firmly gripped so that both the pinion and the rack: bar are locked against n'iovement. This strip or the rack bar may have a projection 2G or other means atthe extreme end thereof, so as to prevent the rack bar from being pulled entirely out of mesh with the pinion.

ln my improved construction, the dressmaker or user, by means of the key, may rotate each and all of the pinions to adjust the various sections toward and. from each other, and to the desired ext-ent, and any adjustment, when once made may be locked or will rein-ain lined during the making of other adjustments, due to the normal frictional resistance to the turning of the pinion. Furthermore, the application of force in the movement of the sections is such that each section may be moved slowly and easily to the exact position desired without possibility of slipping irregularly or past the desired position. There is no necessity for extending the hand upinto the interior 0f the form in the construction shown in Figs. 2, 3 and et. In the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8 this need not be done until after all of the adjustments are made, and the entire form is of the desired shape, size and proportions. The user may then extend the hand up into the interior of the dress form aud lock all of the pinions at one time by a tightening of the several butterfly nuts 19a. The rack bars may be of any desired lengt-h, depending upon the extent to which it is desired to separate the sections, and may be either straight or curved, dependingupon the contour of the body wall sections to which they are applied. Flach pail` of adjacent wall sections of the form may be connected at two or more places, although by reason of the positive locking, a single connection between the two sections is entirely adequate. There are no parts projecting outwardly beyond the surface of the form, which would interfere with the proper fitting of a dress thereon, and the several holes 17 in which the key may be inserted are so small that they do not present any objectionable surface irregularity. After the adjustments have been made and the form brought to the desired shape, size and proportions, the entire form may be enclosed in a tight-fitting casing of jersey or other fabric to entirely cover and conceal the lines between adjacent sections, as well as the apertures 17, :1nd to provide suitable surface to which the dress may be pinned during the fitting operation.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l.. In a multiple section dress form, the combination of a rack bar secured to one section and projecting across the dividing line. between it and the next adjacent section, :i pinion mounted on the inner surface of t he last mentioned section and meshing with said rack bar, and means for locking said pinion against rotation.

2. In a multiple section dress form, the combination of a rack bar secured to one section and projecting acrossv the dividing line between it and the next adjacent section, a pinion mounted on the inner surface of the last mentioned section and meshing with said rack bar, said last mentioned section having an aperture coaxial with said pinion, whereby the pinion may be rotated from the exterior of the form.

3. In a multiple dress forni, the combinationl of a` rack bar secured to vone section and projecting across the dividing line between it and the next adjacentsection, a pinion mounted on the inner surface of the last mentioned section and meshing with said rack bar, said last mentioned section having an aperture coaxial with said pinion, whereby the pinion may be rotated from the exterior of the form, and means for locking said pinion against rotation.

'i. In a multiple section dress form, the combination of al rack bar having one end secured to one section, a bracket secured to an adjacent section of the form and includmg a pair of spaced metal strips, a pinion disposed between said strips, a shaft journaled in said strips and carrying said pinion, one end of said shaft projecting intoy an aperture through the wall cf the section and adapted to receive a key for the rotation of the pinion and a portionfof said shaft being threaded, and lock nut on 'said threaded portion for locking said pinion and one of sai-d strips together to prevent rotation of the pinionand to hold saidL rack bar against longitudinal movement.l

n 5. ln a multiple' section dress form, the combination'of a rack bar secured to one section, a pinion secured to an adjacent section and meshing with said rack bar, a locking nut for holding the rack bar against rotation, and means for operating the pinion and the locking nut from the exterior of the form.

6. In a multiple section dress form, the combination of a rack bar secured to one section, a pinion secured to an adjacent section and having a shaft, a bracket for supporting said shaft and pinion, a lock nut threaded on said shaft for clamping said pinion to said bracket and preventing rotation, and means for rotating' said shaft and lock nut simultaneously to move the rack bar endwise.

7. In a multiple section dress form, the combination of a rack bar secured to one section, a pinion secured to an adjacent section and having a shaft, a bracket for supporting said shaft and pinion, a lock nut threaded on said shaft for clamping said pinion to said bracket and preifenting rotation, and a key having separate portions for engaging with said shaft and said lock` nut for independently rotating them.

8. In a multiple sect-ion dress form, the combination of a rack bar secured to one section, a bracket including a plurality of superposed strips secured to another section, a shaft extending through one strip and journaled in an intermediate one and held against longitudinal movement in respect to said bracket, a lock nut threaded on said shaft and freely rotatable in one of said strips and adapted to directly engage with the surface of said pinion for binding the latter to said bracket, said lock nut and shaft having end portions terminating in an aperture extending through the wall of said second mentioned section, and a key having concentric portions one adapted to engage with and rotate said shaft, and the other adapted to engage with and rotate said lock nut, and means ior locking said key portions together tor simultaneous rotation.

9. In a multiple section dress form the combination of a rack bar having one end secured to one section and extending across the dividing line between it and the neXt section, the. last mentioned section having an opening therethrough adjacent to said dividing line, a bracket secured to the inner 1 surface of the last mentioned section and extending across said aperture and supporting said rack bar in predetermined relationship to said aperture and guiding it during its longitudinal movement past said aperture, Vlocking means normally preventing said longitudinal movement of the rack bar, and a key adapted to be inserted through said aperture to release said locking'means and to effect said longitudinal movement.

10. In a multiple section dress form the combination of a rack bar having one end secured to one section and extending across the dividing line between it and the next sec- 3 tion,'the last mentioned section having an opening therethrough adjacent to said dividing line, a locking member at said aperture :tor normally preventing longitudinal movement of said rack bar, and a key mem- 3 ber adapted to be inserted in said aperture and rotatable therein, and operating to ree lease said locking member and to effect longitudinal movement of the rack har to widen or narrow the space between said sections.

ll. In amultiple section dressy form the combination of a rack bar having one end secured to one section and extending across the dividing line between it and the next section, thelast mentioned section having an 'opening therethrough adjacent to said dividing line, a pinion for moving said bar endwise, and ak locking member at said aperture for normally prevent-ing longitudi- 50 nal movement of said rack bar.

- Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this Qth day of December A. D. 1921.

JACK CARL Jannes. 

